Zooey Deschanel Sought by Spider-Man's Webb for Betty Brant

Published at 10:52 AM EST on Nov 11, 2010 | Updated at 2:41 PM EDT on May 30, 2012

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Having already starred in Marc Webb's first film, actress Zooey Deschanel is said to be the director's choice to take a smaller role in the upcoming "Spider-Man" reboot.

Webb hopes to cast Deschanel as Betty Brandt, assistant to editor-in-chief J. JOnah Jameson at The Daily Bugle, accoridng to Showbiz Spy. She would join Andrew Garfield in the lead, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans as The Lizard.

Deschanel starred opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Webb's 2009 hit anti-romcom "(500) Days of Summer," the film that basically won Webb the "Spider-Man" gig.

“Betty was a minor character in the previous Spidey movies but Marc has big plans for her,” an anonymous insider told the site. “He wants a strong performer to carry the role and Zooey fits the bill perfectly. The role is hers if she wants it.”

Brant was played by Elizabeth Banks in the first three "Spider-Man" films, but it was a very small role. Webb, it would seem, intends to beef up her presence.

According to her official Marvel Comics bio, Brant was raised by a single mother in the Philadelphia who would later inherit from her mom the job as JJJ's assistant, and eventually dated Peter Parker. But Brant would eventually blame Spider-Man for her brother's death, the result of a battle with Dr. Octopus, and Parker realized he would never be able to reveal his true identity.

The next Spider-Man will hit theaters July 3, 2012.

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